AJC poll: Voters split on ‘religious liberty’ bill

Less than a month after Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a controversial “religious liberty” bill, several hundred people defied the rain to attend the “We Stand with God Pro-Family Rally” on April 22 in Liberty Plaza, across from the Georgia Capitol, to support such legislation. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Less than a month after Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a controversial “religious liberty” bill, several hundred people defied the rain to attend the “We Stand with God Pro-Family Rally” on April 22 in Liberty Plaza, across from the Georgia Capitol, to support such legislation. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Georgia voters remain torn over whether state lawmakers should try again to pass a so-called religious liberty bill when they return to session this week, a new poll for  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found.

The poll, conducted last week, found a plurality -- 44 percent -- said lawmakers should drop the issue while 40 percent said they support a renewed effort.

READ MORE: See the full results of the AJC’s latest poll

The fight over religious liberty bills is expected to return to the Gold Dome one way or another after Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a similar measure in 2016.

But support for the measure has apparently dropped, as 52 percent of voters at this time last year said they supported it.

This year's poll found 54 percent of Republican voters supporting another attempt at passing a religious freedom bill compared to just 35 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of independents.

Supporters say the bill would protect people of faith from unnecessary government intrusion while opponents worry it would be used to legalize discrimination.